New Jersey

New Jersey

Flourescence

Fluorescence
in minerals is a selective transformation of incoming ultraviolet energy,
which is invisible to the human eye, into emitted visible light. Ultraviolet
means "beyond violet," and is the name given to that region
of the electromagnetic spectrum
just shorter in wavelength (and higher in energy) than violet light. Mineral
fluorescence takes place when the ultraviolet energy is absorbed by a
mineral and is immediately given off as visible light. Fluorescent colors
are exceptionally vivid and present the viewer an eerie glow because they
are emitted, not reflected, light. The emission is often confined to a
narrow band of light, thus yielding a pure, intense color. This phenomenon
has nothing to do with radioactivity, although some radioactive materials
fluoresce. The willemite, calcite and other local minerals that fluoresce
are not radioactive.

Mineral fluorescence was discovered near the end of the 19th
Century, when mines were electrified. Sparks from knife switches and the
mine "trollies" emitted ultraviolet light, revealing the fluorescent
quality of willemite and other minerals. Before long, crude iron-arc spark
devices were being used to sort willemite in the mills, and to further
analyze fluorescence and phosphorescence. By the 1930's, portable
filtered mercury-arc lamps, direct ancestors of those used today by collectors,
were being taken underground. There, geologists and surveyors could trace
the ore at Sterling Hill and Franklin by fluorescence of willemite.

A substantial number of local minerals fluoresce; they emit visible light
when subjected to ultraviolet radiation. The fact that there are more
spectacularly colored fluorescent minerals found at Franklin-Sterling
Hill than anywhere else in the world prompted the New Jersey State Legislature
on September 12, 1968 to declare the Borough of Franklin the "Fluorescent
mineral Capital of the World."

The introduction of low-cost, low-pressure, mercury-vapor, portable ultraviolet
lamps stimulated a whole new emphasis in mineral collecting at Franklin.
This branch of local mineral collecting emerged energetically and fostered
intense collecting and preservation of fluorescent mineral specimens on
a grand scale. The bountiful supply of material fed an increasing demand
and ensured the permanent role of fluorescence in the public aspects of
Franklin's mining history and mineralogy.

To most collectors of fluorescent minerals, "Franklin" is typified
by the red-and-green-fluorescing combination of calcite and willemite.
While these two are found together at a dozen or more other localities,
at none of them is this combination abundant or typical. At Franklin and
Sterling Hill it was a substantial proportion of the millions of tons
of ore mined there.

At present, 84 fluorescent mineral species are known from the Franklin
and Sterling area. Of these, about 10 are of sufficient brilliance that
specimens of them are widely regarded as "classics." Some of
the factors which make Franklin specimens the best know in nature are
the intensity, depth and brilliance of their colors of fluorescence; the
sharp contrasts where several fluorescent species are present on one specimen
(commonly two to four, but up to seven); the textural variations for a
variety of species; and the large size of some specimens.